Download PDF - Knowledge for development - CTA

South Pacific Agricultural News
Span
- Institute for Research, Extension & Training in Agriculture
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE
SOUTH PACIFIC
IRETA
SPAN Vol. 36, No.11 November/December 2011 ISSN 1015 - 950
IRETA
13 Graduate with Agricultural Qualifications
The School of Agriculture and Food Technology ended this
academic year with agricultural qualifications achieved by 13
students from around the region. Agriculture as the backbone of
the region’s survival is in great need of qualified manpower for
its successful development. SAFT continues to be committed to
provide quality agricultural education to assist the region in their
efforts to improve agriculture and address food security
challenges imposed on our small island nations. This year’s
graduation saw the completion of hard work for seven students
in the Bachelor of Agriculture, five students in Postgraduate
Diploma in Agriculture and one student in the Diploma in
Agriculture.
Overall 74 students graduated from various disciplines
including arts, commerce and science. From the 74 graduands, 7
medical graduands from the Fiji School of Medicine took the
Hippocratic Oath at this ceremony.
2011 Graduates
Bachelor of Agriculture
Patterson Giza (Solomon)
HikaioneLoumoli (Tonga)
Makilua Puniani (Tonga)
Sakiasi Ralulu (Fiji)
Tanumafili Tufuga (Samoa)
Ratu Vasuidreketi (Fiji)
Franklyn Wasi (Solomon)
Postgraduate Diploma
for Agriculture
Saimone Delabaka (Fiji)
Rohit Lal (Fiji)
Premila Naicker (Fiji)
Runte Navian (Tonga)
Atama Vurebe (Fiji)
Diploma in Agriculture
Tebwere Tokantetaake (Kiribati)
The Telefoni Retzlaff Memorial Prize for the Most
Outstanding results in Animal Husbandry
Hikaione Loumoli
Inside this Issue
VC congratulates USP graduates in Samoa ………………… 2
Christmas and New Years messages ……………………... 3-5
MOU signing between USP and NUS………………………. 6
Celebrating published work by Alafua staff………………... 7
Christmas and New Years messages ……………………….. 8
Producing natural Samoan oil ……………………………… 9
Editor in Chief : Mohammed Umar
Publication Officer : Taranaki Seiuli

SPAN November / December 2011
VC Congratulates USP graduates in Samoa
2
“As I have often said, the graduation ceremony
is the most significant and meaningful occasion
in the University’s calendar so I would like to devote a
few minutes congratulating the graduands.”
“Graduands — you are the reason we are here and
we are all proud to share with you this joyous
occasion in your lives. For some of you, the journey
may not have been easy –it required sacrifices by
yourselves, your families, sponsors and communities.
As you look back, I am sure you will all feel very
pleased that you have achieved your goals. Your
success today marks the end of one journey and
signals the start of another journey. I therefore want
to extend my very best wishes to you all and say that
whatever you have gained from your studies at USP,
make good use of it, and be role models and good
leaders in your communities. “We have about 74
students graduating today, of whom 7 are from the
Fiji School of Medicine. This is our fifth and final
graduation for 2011. They will join our alumni, who
have gone on to make major contributions to their
countries, our region and beyond.”
Some of the 2011 graduates

SPAN November / December 2011
CHRISTMAS and NEWYEARS Message from the
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rajesh Chandra
Greetings to everyone for the festive
season. I have seen great improvement
throughout USP in 2011. My recent visit
to Samoa has impressed me with the
improvements taking place at Alafua--
particularly the library, the farm and
other activities. The challenge that faces
Alafua is to improve student enrolment
at SAFT. For USP as a whole we have
improved our financial performance
significantly and increased our
undergraduate and postgraduate
enrolment. I thank the whole University
Community for your support to improve
the quality of education and Brand of
USP among reputable educational
institutions. May the Peace and love of
Christmas fill your hearts and may 2012
be a new year full of success, happiness,
good health and profound joy.
3
Christmas Message from Dr Adama Ebenebe,
Acting Head of School SAFT
Wish all the staff
at Alafua
Campus a
Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year

SPAN November / December 2011
CHRISTMAS Message from Mohammed Umar, Director, IRETA
4
Flamboyant and Showers are in full bloom indicating
that Xmas is just around the corner. It’s time for us
all to wind down from yet another hectic year to take
a good break over Christmas. Break with family,
friends and all the loved ones. It’s also a time for
serious reflection on the past year of our
achievements, commitments to our work and the
vicissitudes of life in general. Some of us will be
happy and satisfied with the sincerity with which we
worked, were recognized and perhaps rewarded as
well. Others perhaps were not so fortunate to end
the year with satisfaction, rewards and enjoyment.
Christmas however gives us all the time to relax,
pray, reflect and think for the future in calm and
happy moments with our close relatives to have a
much better 2012.
What lies ahead for us all as employees of USP in
2012 depends much on ourselves. We just have to
perform. Show outputs from the results of our
efforts and expect rewards. 2011 was a good year for
IRETA with progress made in various key activities of
the Institute and the Farm. All IRETA support staff did
a tremendous job for which I am extremely grateful.
The support from the Vice Chancellor and the Dean
of FBE made my life easy to take decisions and act.
Thank you both for your trust and confidence in us. I
should also thank the Acting Campus Director Ruby
Vaa, Acting HOS SAFT Adama Ebenebe and other
management and I&J staff at Alafua for their
wonderful support to the Institute. Unfortunately for
Ekpo Ossum, (HOS and Campus Director) he could
not complete the year due to personal issues even
though he was doing a good job. We all pray for his
speedy recovery. I should also thank our partners in
development – FAO, CTA, JICA, PARDI, donors and
the USP member countries sincerely for their
unfailing support to the Institute in 2011.
I want to end this message with a little thought from
an English Poet Alfred Tennyson:
“Little flowers, but if I could understand, what you
are, root and all in all, I should know what God and
man is”.
Wish you all a very joyous Christmas and a happy
2012.

SPAN November / December 2011
CHRISTMAS and NEWYEARS Messages
5
Message from Leatuaolevao Ruby
Va’a, Acting Campus Director, Alafua
Coordinator, Continuing
& Community Education
I thank all the staff at
Alafua Campus for the
hard work they did in
2011 and wish everyone a
very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
The Alafua Library Staff wish you all a very Merry
Christmas and Happy Holidays. Why not relax with a
good book over the holiday break Come and select
something great to read from our range of novels.
We look forward to seeing you in the library.
The Library Staff

SPAN November / December 2011
MOU signing between NUS and USP
6
The University of the South Pacific (USP)
and the National University of Samoa
(NUS) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) intended to
facilitate all cooperation between the two
Universities in the areas of teaching,
research, and community engagement.
This cooperation may take a number of
forms and involve a number of different
parties at each institution working
together for mutual benefit. Activities
envisioned will include, but are not
limited to: exchange of researchers,
faculty staff, and students; joint research
or projects of mutual interest that
address regional priorities; technical
assistance and training; exploration of the
potential to offer joint programs; and
joint sponsorship of symposia, seminars
and conferences on themes of
mutual interest.

SPAN November / December 2011
Celebrating research work published by Alafua staff
7
Angela Jowitt
On the 14th December 2011 USP Alafua Library
hosted an inaugural Authors’ Tea to celebrate
research work published by Alafua staff in the last
three years. In the presence of the USP Vice
Chancellor, Professor Rajesh Chandra, six staff
members presented their work, outlining the basics
of their research. The event highlighted the various
subject disciplines covered by staff and their
contribution to the body of knowledge for topics of
interest to the region and world. It is hoped this
event will be the first of many annual Authors’ Teas,
showcasing research taking place at USP Alaufa.
The following list identifies the USP Alafua campus
staff who have become Authors, often working in
collaboration with others.
Adama Ebenebe
The cabbage webworm (Hellula undalis) on
tickweed (Cleome viscosa) in Samoa Relative
impacts of some insecticides on infestation and
damage by leaf-eating caterpillars and on
non-target arthropod diversity in head cabbage
(Brassica oleracea var. capitata) crops in Samoa
Exploring the source of corm rots affecting fresh
taro exports from Fiji (Poster)
Tolo Iosefa
Improving taro production in the South Pacific
through breeding and selection Linking Farmers,
Genebanks and Networks for Genetic Enhancement
of TaroThe taro improvement programme in Samoa:
sharing genetic resources through networking
Angela Jowitt
Surviving a tsunami : Dealing with disaster : Lessons
from the Samoa tsunami 29.09.09 (Book)
Learning from the victims: New physical and social
science information about tsunamis from victims of
the September 29, 2009 event in Samoa and
American Samoa
Jagdish Bhati and Sonny Lameta (edited by Ruby
Vaa)
Planning and management of agricultural projects :
A manual.
Ioane Malaki & Tolo Iosefa
Subsistence food security in the tsunami affected
areas of Samoa.
Pradeep K Singh
A case for prioritizing agriculture for development in
Pacific Islands countries
Development of agrientrepreneurship in Samoa :
Opportunities and challenges
Rural and agricultural credit in India and Gujarat
Modernizing agricultural entrepreneurship in
Samoa: A small island country in the Pacific region
Managing Sustainable Development of Rural
Economy through Integrated Planning of Farming
Systems and Natural Resources

SPAN November / December 2011
CHRISTMAS and NEWYEARS Messages
8
Suel Gee Samuelu
“Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody
can get anywhere unless everybody gets
there”. Student Academic Services has run short
staff from the very beginning of this year;
however, we have survived. I am constantly
reminded that it is not what happens to us that
matters but what we do with what happens to
us that is more significant. Mrs Cecilia
Leaupepe and Mrs Sia Seuoti have done a grand
job in holding the fort at Student Academic
Services – Alafua Campus this year and I
applaud this team effort from the both of them.
Without them; I would have struggled to keep
my head above water. I am comforted by the
thought that no problem is insurmountable,
with a little courage, teamwork and
determination, we can overcome anything. May
I take this opportunity on behalf of all of us here at
Student Academic Services to thank everyone; on,
off campus, our counterparts at Laucala who have
assisted in many ways throughout the year to wish
you ALL a safe and blessed Festive Season with
your Families.
Dear All,
As I prepare to depart on my
2 months leave. I wish you
all, your families and loved
ones a very safe, happy and
joyous Christmas.
May your Christmas sparkle
with moments of love,
laughter and goodwill,
And may the year ahead be
full of contentment and joy
and prosperous 2012.
All my lovings, best wishes
and take care
Ms Majorie Bola

Source :WIBDI
SPAN November / December 2011
Producing Natural Samoa Coconut oil
9
Roma Fuimaona a youth from Saanapu in his early
twenties is one of many in Samoa who is producing
organic coconut oil. Roma produces 320 kilos of organic
coconut oil from 1,120 coconuts daily to sell. He employs
11 youths in the village to work in shifts as the production
goes on for 24 hours a day.
The Organic Coconut Oil Production Project initiated by
Women in Business Development Inc (WIBDI) builds on an
activity that is already normal practice in the villages.
Production of coconut oil for export has taken place from
as far back as the 1800s, and traditionally was the activity
of village women. Although copra has been produced and
sold to export markets in the past as a major income
earner, its fluctuating world market prices and labour
intensive nature of production has discouraged villagers
from considering its production as viable. As a result many
villages have surplus coconuts at their disposal. WIBDI
found that organic coconut oil production was a far more
economically viable activity which could still be carried out
in rural areas, encouraging families to remain in their
villages.
Direct Micro-Expelling (DME) technology is used to
produce the oil. It is simple and can be used in rural areas.
DME blends the wisdom of age-old techniques with the
efficiency of modern technology. Within 60 minutes,
mature coconuts are transformed into extremely high
grade, pure, cold-pressed, virgin oil which is highly prized
in both the local and export markets, DME particularly
because of its significant health benefits.
WIBDI provides training in the use of this technology,
access to finance for the purchase of the coconut grinders,
and weekly visits to collect and test the oil, and provide
supervision and support. WIBDI purchases oil from the
farmers, if they wish to sell it, and bottle and market the
oil to customers.
Production is located around the villages because that is
where the coconut resource, the producers and some of
the consumers are.
One main buyer of the oil is a cosmetic company called
Body shop in England. There is no doubt that skin/health
care products are a product category that is showing
worldwide growth in markets where the population is
ageing. Consumer expenditure is huge, driven mainly by
motivation for beautiful skin. Virgin coconut oil is a serious
contender in that market. Apart from ”vanity” sales, virgin
coconut oil can also relieve skin irritations and provide
relief from insect bites, skin exima and similar disorders.
Producer families are encouraged to enhance their
earnings by the production of value-added products. They
learn to scent the oil with fragrant local flowers such as the
mosooi and the frangipane. Simple soaps can also be
produced at the village level.
The coconut meal by-product can be used for cooking such
as baking and confectionery. It also makes good stock
feed. A delicious healthy oil, low in cholesterol, with
anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

SPAN November / December 2011
The USP Alafua 2011 Graduation
10